Container capping machine



Oct. 14, 1 J. MFHOTHEIRSALL 2,258,611

CONTAINER CAP P-I NG MACHINE Filed March 21, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheefl Get.14,1941. .LM. HOTHERSALL CONTAINER CAPPING MACHINE Filad latch 21, 19402 Sheets-Sheet 2 w m U 4.0 3 w v \01. a 4 o 2 L 0 a v 9.

' Patented Oct. 14, 1941 2,258,811 r CONTAINER carrrric momma John M.Hothersall, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to American Can Company, New York,N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application March 21, 1940, SerialNo. zazsz Claims.

The present invention relates to container capping machines and the likeand has particular reference to an improved machine for preforming athin flexible celluiosic or the like overcap and for securing it to asealed fibre container.

In the manufacture of fibre containers of the character shown in UnitedStates Patent 2,035,979, issued July 6, 1937, to John M. Hothersail, andparticularly used for milk, the container after being filled and sealedis preferably proteoted by an overcap of Cellophaneor the like materialwhich is crimped in place over the top end of the container.

The instant invention contemplates an improved machine which cuts thematerial for such an overcap from a substantially continuous strip.forms the cut-off piece into an overcap, and then secures the formedovercap in place on the container by crimping it tightly over the edgesof the container.

An object therefore of the invention is the provision of an improvedcontainer overcapping machine wherein the material for the overcap issevered from a substantially continuous strip of the material, thecut-off piece of material is preformed into an overcap, the overcap ispositioned on a container and is then permanently sealed in place toprotect the surface it covers against contamination.

Another object is the provision of such a machine wherein the cut-offpiece of material is preformed into an overcap by a drawing operationand is simultaneously transferred into a crimping head which thereuponcarries the formed overcap into position relative to a container andthen seals the overcap in position on the container by a crimping of theedges of the overcap over the edges of the container.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentas it is better understood from the following description, which, takenin connection with theaccompanying drawings, discloses a preferredembodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a front elevation of a machine embodying the instantinvention, with parts broken away and other parts shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail in vertical section taken substantially along theline 3-4 in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail as viewed substantially along the line4-4 in Fig. 2.

As a preferred embodiment of the invention, the drawings disclose amachine in which blanks A (Fig. 1) are cut from a strip B of Cellophane"or the like material and are preformed into overcaps C of square dishshaped construction having a surrounding flangeD. The formed over- 'way32.

caps are applied to the topsof fibre milk containers E of the charactershown in the above mentioned Hothersall patent. Such containers have aprojecting seam edge F over which the flange D of the overcap is crimpedtightly in place by pressure applied thereto. usually have an exteriorcoating of paramn which acts as an adhesive for retaining the overcap inposition when once applied by pressure.

The strip B of overcap material is preferably fed from a supply roll ofsuch material carried on a rod ll (Fig. 1) secured in a bracket l2mounted on a frame I3 which constitutes the main frame of the machine.Feeding of the strip from the supply roll is preferably effected by apair of cooperating feed rollers l5, I6 between which the strip passes.The rollers frictionally engage the strip. These rollers are mounted onshort shafts I! carried in laterally extending side arms it of thebracket l2. The rollers are inter-.

mittently rotated in unison in any suitable manner in time with theother moving parts of the machine. 7

Hence every time the feed rollers -l 5, I6 rotate, they advance thestrip B a sufiicient distance to supply a length of the materialequivalent to one overcap.

The end of the strip B so advanced extends down into a vertical slot 21of a forming die. 22 which is secured to the main frame [3. The formingdie includes a fiat out-off knife 24 which slides in a recess 25' whichextends across the path of travel of the advance end of the strip B.

The inner end of the knife 24 is provided with a sharp cutting edge. Theouter end of the knife is connected to a lever 26 which intermediate itslength is carried on a pivot pin 21 secured in a lug 28 formed on thedie block. The opposite end of the lever is connected to a link 29 whichis actuated in any suitable manner in time with the other movingparts'of the machine.

Hence at the proper time in the machinecycle the cut-off knife 24operates to sever a predetermined length of the strip B from the endwhich was advanced into the die. portion of the strip which constitutesa blank A and is the material used for making one overcap C.

The cut-off blank A of Cellophane remains in the die in a verticalposition in the slot 2| and is directly in front of a square formingplunger 3| which operates in a horizontal slide- 33 the outer end ofwhich is connected to an upper bifurcated end of an actuating lever 34.

The lever is mounted on a pivot pin 35 carried in lugs 38 formed on thedie block 22. The lower end' of the lever is connected to a link 31which may be actuated in any suitable manner The containers It is thiscut-off The plunger is formed with a stem nuns as soon as the blank A issevered from its strip B, the actuating lever 34 slides the formingplunger 3| inwardly in its slideway and against the severed blankthereupon, pushing it into a square forming die recess 4!. The formingdie recess is disposed in the die 22 adjacent the inner side of thestrip slot 2| and is in alignment with the path of travel of the plunger3|.

The die recess 4| is only slightly larger than the plunger that fitsinto it but is considerably smaller than the blank A. Hence when theplunger forc s the blank into the recess it folds theoverhanging edgesof the blank down over the sides of the plunger and tucks in thecorners. It is this folding action that preforms the flanges D or. theovercap,

After thus forming the overcap C, the forming plunger it continues itsinward path of travel and pushes the finished overcap out of the formingrecess 4| and into a waiting clinching head 45 (Figs. land 2) of'anadjacent sealing mech anism. The forming plunger then returns to'itsoriginal position in readiness for the next advancement of the strip B.

There are preferably four of the clinching heads 45 and each headincludes a hollow square anvil 46 which is formed on the outer end of aradial arm 41 of a rotatable spider wheel or member 48. There are thusfour arms on the spider. The spider is mounted on a horizontal shaft 45which extends through a face cam 5| secured to the main frame It andwhich is carried in a bearing 52 formed in the frame.

Surrounding the anvil 46 of each head 45 are four clinching jaws 55, onefor each side of the square anvil. It is these jaws which receive theformed overcap C from the forming plunger 3| and which thereupon holdthe overcap for future application to a container as will be hereinafterexplained.

The laws 55 are formed on bell cranks 55 mounted on pivot pins 51carried in lugs 58 which project from the anvil. The bell cranks of eachhead are connected by links 58 to a sleeve 5| which slides on itscorresponding spider arm 41,

The clinching laws 55 of each head are normally maintained in an open orspread apart position by a tension spring 84. There is one of thesesprings for each head. One end of the spring is hooked over a pin 55secured in the hub of the spider 48. The other end is hooked over a pin65 which is secured in the sleeve 8|.

The jaws 55 are locked against movement or are moved by a cam roller 88which operates in an annular groove 89 formed in the face cam 5!. Thesecam rollers are' carried on pins 'II secured in each of the head sleevesll.

' The spider 48 on which the clinching heads 45 are mounted isintermittently rotated to bring a head into alignment with the die 22 toreceive its overcap C as hereinbefore explained. This rotation of thespider is effected by 8. Geneva mechanism best shown in Figs. 2 and 3.The mechanism includes a Geneva wheel which is formed on the inner endof the spider shaft 48 and which is provided with actuating slots 14 andlocking surfaces 11. The Geneva wheel meshes with an actuating disc I8which is formed with a locking cam 18 and carries a roller 8|. The discis mounted on a continuously rotating disc shaft 83.

Rotation of the disc shaft 83 is preferably brought about by a gearwhich is formed integrally with the disc 18. The gear meshes with a gear88 mounted on the inner end of a driving shaft 81 journaled in a bearing88 formed in the main frame l3. On its outer end the shaft carries agear 89 which is driven by a pinion 9| carried on the rotor shaft 92 ofan electric motor 93.

Hence during a portion of each revolution of the disc shaft 83 theroller 8| on the disc 18 engages in a slot 16 of the Geneva wheel 15 andthus turns the spider shaft 49 through a partial rotation. -Since thereare preferably four clinching heads on the wheel this partial rotationis a quarter revolution. During the remainder of the revolution of thedisc 18 its locking cam 19 engages a locking surface H of the Genevawheel and thus maintains the spider in a stationary condition.

During the quarter turn of the spider 48 a head 45 is brought intoalignment with the die 22 to receive its overcap C and while the spideris held stationary the overcap is inserted into the head as hereinbeforeexplained.

After an overcap C has been received in the laws 55 of a clinching head45, the spider 48 on its next quarter turn brings the head and theovercap carried therein into position at an applying station generallyindicated by the numeral 85 (Figs. 1 and 2). At this station the overcapis directly above a container E supported on a lifter plate 98 formed onthe upper end of a rod 9'! which is slidable in a bearing 98 formed inthe main frame l3. The container may be placed on the lifter plate inany suitable manner as by hand. The lifter plate is adapted to be raisedtoward the head in time with the other moving parts of the machine.

When a container E is in position on the lifter plate 95 the lattermoves up and thus pushes the upper end of the container up into theovercap C held in the jaws of the head 45. While in this raised positionthe jaws move inwardly against the flanges D of the overcap and thusfold them under the projecting seam edges F of the container and tightlypress them upwardly against the head anvil 48. This clinching actioncauses the folded over edges of the overcap to tightly adhere to theparaflin covered surface of the container and thus seals the overcap inplace on the container. This app of the overcap is done while the wheel48 is stationary.

Closing of the head jaws 55 to effect this overcap sealing operation isbrought about by a cam Ill (Figs. 2 and 4) which is formed on the innerend of the Geneva disc shaft 83. The cam is located in a recess I82formed in the cam 5| adjacent the annular groove 58 at the applyingstation. Since the cam is formed on the shaft)! it is rotated in timewith the other moving parts of the machine and thusmakes one revolutionfor each quarter turn of the spider 45.

Hence while the spider 48 is stationary the cam [0| engages against theroller 85 of the head at the applying station and depresses the rollerinto an auxiliary recess I03 formed in the cam-5| directly below therecess I82. This depression of the roller slides the head sleeve 8|downwardly on its spider arm 41 and thus actuates the head bell cranks56 to shift the laws 55 into overcap clinching position.

After such a clinching operation the rotating cam Iii permits thetension spring 54 to draw the cam roller 88 and sleeve 8| upwardly intocombination devices ior ieeding a strip M their original positions. Thisaction opens the jaws It so that they are clear of the container.Thereupon the litter plate 98 and its container return to their loweredoriginal positions to permit discharge of the overcapped container andto the and it will be apparent thatvarious changesmay bemade inthe ionn.

construction-and arrangement of the parts,withoutirom themirit and scopeof the .inventioniorgsacriflcingfall or in material ad-' mhereinbeioredescribed beingme'rely preierred embodiment thereon r. tainerhaving aproiccting edge, which comprises overcap along-a predetermined path ortravell'awtationarydie adjacent said path 0! travel ror pree-iormingfrom said strip a dish shaped ovcrcaphaving'a surrounding flange, an

intermittently rotatable spider member having extending arms eachterminating in a a surrounding flange to be secured to a container, aclinching head located adjacent said overcap forming means for receivinga pro-formed overcap therefrom, devices for shifting said clinching headinto a position adjacent a' container, a litter pad for pushing saidcontainer into said overcap, clinching jaws on said clinching headengageable with the flange of said formed overcap, means slidablymounted relative to said clinching head and connected to said jaws, anddevices engage able with said slidably mounted means and mov-.

able in synchronism with the shifting movement of the clinching head foractuating said jaws to fold the saidilange of the overcap into sealing'engagement'with said container.

4. Amachine for applying an overcap to a container having a projectingedge, which comprises in combination stationary overcap dieiormingmeansior producing an overcap having a surroundingnange to besecured to a containcr, a spider member disposed adjacent saidlorapplrin'g an overcapto aconclinching-head for receiving a pro-formedoverca'pfhndior positioning it onto a container. clinchini'awsoneachoisaidclinchingheads i'orholding's'aid received overcap, asleeve mcmber slidably mounted on each or said spider arms andoperatively connected to said jaws, and operative in time'with theintermittent rotation oiy said spider member for moving said sleevemembers on and relative to said spider armstcmov'esaid laws against theflanges oi niccessivelypositloned overcaps for 1iangcs. oi the-latteraroundsuccessive container ledges to permanently secure the overcaps inposition onsthe containers.

. .2. A machine for applying an overcap to a container having. aprojecting ledge, which comprises in combination a stationary overcappre-iorming die, a pair or intermittentlv rotated feed rollers disposedadjacent-{said die for feeding a strip oi.

sheet overcap material a predetermined distance into said die, a cut-oi!knife in said die to: severing a blank from said strip, a reciprocatingplunger cooperating with said die to term said flange projectinglaterally therefrom, an intermittently rotating clinching head havingclinchforming means, "and including a plurality. oi

radially'extending arms each having a clinching head at its outer end,clinching laws on said heads, means including a sleeve slidably mountedon a said arm or the spider member for normally holding said jaws inopen position, actuating devices ior intermittently rotating saidspidermem-v I her to bring a head intoposition adjacent said formingmeans to receive between said jaws a preformed overcap from said formingmeans, said actuating devices also shitting said head and its overcapinto position adjacent said container, elements for inserting theprojecting edge oi said 7 container into said flanged overcap while thespider wheel isstationary, and means for moving said sleeve on andrelative to its said spider memberarmtoclosesaidjawsontheiiangeoitheovercap while the head is stationary to fold said "so flange around theprojecting edge of the con-' and to press the iiange into sealing en-Basement therewith. I

5. A machine for applying an overcap to-a container having a' projectingedge, which comprises in combination overcap forming means for producingan overcap having a surrounding flange to be secured to a container, aspider wheel disposed adjacent said forming means and having a pluralityof radial arms, a clinching head having an anvil iormed on the outer endor each spider arm, a plurality oi movable jaws surrounding said anvil,a spring held slide on e'achoi said spider arms having link connectionswith said jaws, a cam roller on each oi said slides. a stablankinto an'overcap having a to said clinching head and movable in timed re- Ilation with the intermittent rotation 01 the latter tor moving saidclinching jaws into operative engagement with the iiange of thepositioned overcap for bending said flange around the container ledge tosecure the overrap in position on the container. Y

3. A machine for applying an overcap to a container having a piniiietinsedge, which comprises in comhinatieri evercap die forming means iorpromising an ever-cap havingtionary cam in which said cam rollersoperate to maintain said jaws in a normally open position,

means for intermittently rotating said spider wheel to brin a clinchinghead adjacent said forming means to receive a preformed overcap in theopen jaws of said head and for iurther rotating said spider wheel tobring the head and its over-cap into position adjacent ahead of acontainer to be capped, a litter pad for pushing the end of thecontainer into the overcap and against said head anvil, and auxiliarycam devices operating in a recess 01 said holding cam and operableagainst the cam roller on said slide i'or shifting said slide on itsspider arm to close said jaws on theiiange or said overcap to clinch itiast'to said container.

7 JOHN M. HOI'HERQALL.

